You are here: Forums Hatchbacks Ford Focus Ford Focus Wagon

Ford Focus Wagon

613 messages,  Last post on Aug 09, 2009 at 8:13 PM

You are in the Ford Focus Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer

What is this discussion about? Ford Focus, Wagon

Messages Page 20 of 62 1 ... 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 ... 62 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

#190 of 613 fdthird..............RE: "Program 03N01" by summerproject Jan 22, 2004 (10:22 am)
**Thank you Sylvia for clearing that up. My bad.**   fdthird wrote: <<Seems to me that what Ford is saying is that IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE PROBLEM you need to pay for the diagnostic>>   Yes that IS what the peolple at Ford are saying.   fdthird wrote: <<How many of those letters did they send out? They're probably just trying to stop the vast majority of folks who don't have a problem from descending on the service depts and eating up the replacement parts>>   And what an unexpected windfall they could get from all the folks that will pay $60- $80 to have a diagnostic done to see if they have the "Program 03N01" problem. Good thing they sent out all those letters!   This is the third recall on the fuel filter assembly for Ford Focus' produced 2000 through 13 June 2001. Ford knows they should be doing a recall on this defect, but to avoid having to pay for a recall they call it an "extended warranty".   Ford isn't doing this "extended warranty" offer to be nice, they are doing it because there has been a proven history of a defect in this specific area. 3,475+ consumer complaints about this issue moved Ford to action not anything else.   Since I did have the symptoms described in the letter concerning "Program 03N01" and the letter said if owners experienced any of these problems to "take the vehicle to your dealer". It would be only logical to assume that Ford would not charge me to plug my car into their computer to see if they could tell me if I had Ford's "Program 03N01" defect. Having them do a diagnostic may not be the answer either.Who knows if the diagnostic can even tell if the fuel pump fuel filter assembly is defective. Maybe the diagnostic will only give "Program 03N01" status if it determines the fuel pump is completely gone and you are broke down on the side of the road.   As I said before, Ford is trying to prevent a full fledged recall and this is the fix they are currently offering. That problem is very easy to see. Don't be surprised if "Program 03N01" evolves into a complete recall and then Ford won't have to bother with any diagnostics and just throw a new fuel pump and filter assembly in all the vehicles in question.   **********more info below http://www.ofoc.ca/news/news_2003_11.html
#191 of 613 Too Much by fdthird Jan 23, 2004 (10:41 am)
Your opinion...mine is that they are standing behind the product and doing the right thing.   It was not always like this and I am one of millions of consumers that have paid to have manufacturing errors corrected.   I am happy that should I have a problem with the fuel pump on my 2001 Focus (and at 45,000 its running fine) it will not be my problem.   Sorry but my glass is half full!
#192 of 613 Too Much? by summerproject Jan 23, 2004 (4:45 pm)
No need to apologize for having a glass that is half full, unless of coarse you paid for the full glass and they just gave you half. I think you should be entitled to a "repour". But then again that's just my opinion. LOL!
#193 of 613 Outrageous Focus Wagon lock problem (long) by sleddawg Feb 13, 2004 (1:55 pm)
I have an incredible Focus problem story, and I think I have a case for some restitution from Ford. Any advice appreciated... To wit:   I have a 2000 Focus wagon. Bought new after seeing them on a European trip. It was, according to the dealer, the first one in the state of NJ. It's had its share of troubles, including all the recalls - brakes, fuel filter, etc. But, all in all it's a great car to drive, as many agree.   A couple weeks ago I returned from work, drove into the garage and shut off the car. The next morning I went out and the key wouldn't go into the ignition. Not frozen, just wouldn't go in. Of course, the car is facing into the garage, with the steering and transmission locked. I tried the spare key, which was virtually unused, thinking maybe the key is worn – no luck. Luckily the car was straight into the garage, straight up the driveway, so that when the AAA guy came and succeeded in unlocking the transmission, he was able to just pull the car straight back onto the flatbed and take it down to my mechanic. Diagnosis: a new lock cylinder. So, a new lock cylinder doesn’t seem too complicated, right? Well, think again. After 3 new tumbler assemblies the mechanic and the dealer have finally determined that the lock on my car is unlike any other installed in a Focus. In fact, the lock assembly does not match the combination of tumblers that is supposed to be in the car according to Ford’s own VIN computer records! The Focus lock is supposed to have 8 notches/tumblers – the one in my car has only 6! The dealer is completely stumped by this. So, despite all my (excellent) mechanic’s attempts to install the proper Ford replacement part, supplied by the local Ford dealer, IT WILL NEVER WORK! Now, he is forced to replace ALL the locks in the car, doors and ignition, in order to make the car usable. How can this happen? Is it because this car was one of the first off the line? Why would it not match Ford’s own computer record? I have been driving a rental for over a week now – I feel like I should be able to get some restitution for this, since this is surely a major manufacturing defect. Not to mention the fact that the car is ONLY 4 YEARS OLD, so why is the lock worn out in the first place? There’s one other key on the key ring with it, so the old wive's tal about too much weight wouldn't apply anyway. Why would it wear out so fast when my wife’s Escort is 10 years old with almost 100K and no problems?   So, what do you all think of this? Any suggestions? I’m at my wit’s end… Thanks in advance!
#194 of 613 by dave989 Feb 14, 2004 (2:57 pm)
I know some people who work at the Dearborn Ford Test Facility who work on the Focus's ill ask them if they know how to solve the problem. Most likely its some problem with the Computer software. Thats fairly easy to change if you have the right equipment i wouldnt expect a dealer to have it.
#195 of 613 Ford 03N01 fuel pump run-around by birdsmouth Mar 01, 2004 (5:31 am)
I have a 2002 Focus wagon. I have been having problems with the engine stalling at sudden stops and surging at normal driving speeds. Ford dealer has been telling me for some time that the problem was in my head, not in the car. When I received notice of the extended warranty coverage for the fuel pump, I immediately called the Ford service manager and said I wanted a new fuel pump. He said I could bring the car in and if they could determine that I had a fuel pump problem in the shop, they would replace it. But, I said, the problem doesn't occur all the time, or even most of the time; just occasionally. How long do you think I can afford to have my car sit in your shop until it proves it has a problem, I asked? Well, that's the only way we will replace the fuel pump for free, he said.   Now, the problem with this is that the notice from Ford says something else. It says that if I say I have the problem, and if Ford cannot determine that the problem has some other cause, then they will do a free replacement.   Also, in a Feb. 13, 2004 letter to the Center for Auto Safety, which you can find via the following link, the administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration wrote: "Owners will be able to obtain the free remedy whenever they experience any stalling symptoms, without any need for dealer confirmation of a problem with the FDM (i.e. fuel delivery module; aka fuel pump)." In other words, Ford is promising the NHTSA one thing, and telling us suckers who bought an early Focus another.   http://www.autosafety.org/article.php?scid=37&did=853
#196 of 613 Writing by jimjps Mar 01, 2004 (12:01 pm)
In my experience the way to deal with this is to write a letter. It's amazing how they suddenly take it a lot more seriously when it is in writing. I'd write the dealer and CC Ford. It's a hassle but in the end you may have to do it anyway.
#197 of 613 Fuel pump by hotx3 Mar 03, 2004 (6:52 pm)
Mine is being replaced right now, at the second dealer I took it to. The first wanted to charge $2200 to replace the head because of a carbon buildup on the exhaust valves TSB 020901. The second dealer tells me there is no buildup, but he did drop the tank and found stuff in the pump inlet, qualifying me for warranty replacement. Bottom line - there are so many problems with these cars you have to find a dealer you can trust and get whatever needs to be done while you're still under warranty. This may mean putting up the money for diagnosis. It's aggravating, but it's not worth saving money now to be left paying big $$ or arguing for customer goodwill later. You know your car and the service people know how to find the problems. Work with them. Time will tell if I made the right decision, but sometimes you have to do something.
#198 of 613 abonilla - head gasket @ 38K by occupant1 Mar 04, 2004 (9:24 pm)
if smoke came out the vents 2 daays before, it means your heater core failed, then you kept driving the car, the coolant all leaked out the heater core, and you blew the motor. I'm surprised Ford is offering any assistance at all. The steam coming from the vents was the indication to get the car to the dealer immediately. Heater cores fail for a number of reasons. For some reason, on Fords, they fail dur to corrosion from of all things, static electricity. The way to keep this from happening is to make sure all cooling system components are properly grounded. I'm not joking. Put grounding straps on the heater core, on the radiator, and any metal lines in between. It will prevent this from happening again.
#199 of 613 TRACTION CONTROL by mpgman Mar 14, 2004 (5:56 am)
An earlier post asked about traction control. I believe that Ford has discontinued it as an option for the Focus despite it allegedly being one of the best systems on the market. Too few ordered it and the cost drove the MSRP too high when all the other options were added. This may be more appropriately referred to as a vehicle stability system.

Messages Page 20 of 62 1 ... 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 ... 62 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

You are here: Forums Hatchbacks Ford Focus Ford Focus Wagon